CES 2014: LG unveils curved smartphone

Jan. 6, 2014
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The LG G Flex. / LG

by Brett Molina, USATODAY

by Brett Molina, USATODAY

LG says it will launch the G Flex smartphone, which includes a curved display, during the first quarter for carriers AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

The smartphone features a 6-inch HD, curved OLED display, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and will run on Google's Android 4.2.2 mobile operating system, code-named "Jelly Bean."

So, what are the benefits of a curved smartphone? LG claims the experience will be better for consumers "because the distinctively curved, flexible design follows the contour of the face," says the electronics maker in a statement.

The G Flex will also feature a QuickTheater for accessing photos and videos from the lock screen and a Dual Window to have two apps open simultaneously.

The curved display is the next frontier for the smartphone, as manufacturers continue to look for innovative ways to drum up interest in the market. Last fall, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Round that includes a "Roll Effect" for users to view the date, time or missed calls.

In November, Bloomberg reported iPhone maker Apple was exploring new versions of the device with curved displays.